Manual or auto....

[dizzyblonde]

The inevitable has happened and I have been out in the Freelander for a bit of off road bimbling. I so enjoyed it, I actually want to think about learning properly.

I hate manual cars, I've given up on several bouts of lessons, due to the fact I nearly rip the gearstick out of the floor in frustration and I really can't be ffin about with clutches. I am am biker, and always will be, cages are far too alien.

The Freelander is automatic, every car between now and forever will be an automatic, as Peg finds it extremely difficult and painful to drive manual, which is a shame as his license covers him to drive almost anything. We'll only ever be looking at automatics purely for his comfort and benefit.

So what would be the point of learning to drive a manual (apart from the license legal bit) if I am only ever going to have access to automatic cars?

BTW the Bus was a piece of cake to drive, much better than a poxy little 1.1 thing, I think I'm off out again on Sunday, but be a wee while longer before out on the road with L plates as a little time is needed to get used to the sheer size!

[the_lone_wolf]

Originally Posted by dizzyblonde

So what would be the point of learning to drive a manual (apart from the license legal bit) if I am only ever going to have access to automatic cars?

Because one day your friend will need to get somewhere urgently while they can't drive and they'll ask you to use their car to drive them, and you won't be able to without breaking the law

Do the manual test, for the sake of a few extra hours or a bit of hardship you'll have a lifetime's supply of "what if" situation savers

[yorkie_chris]

Do the manual test for the "what if" situation or if you want to hire a car abroad or something.

If you do the auto test you're basically a scooter rider... and you wouldn't want to be one of those now would you?

[G]

I am a general petrolhead and like all things with an engine. For me taking away the manual gear changing in any vehicle takes away a lot of the fun in driving/riding. I also feel I have a lot more control in a manual vehicle)

But to answer your question.

Automatics versions of cars are normal £1.5k+ more expensive than the equivelent car.

If you ever find yourself in a sticky situation (with a friend in a manual car, they then fall ill and cant drive), it would always be handy to be able to drive a manual car like most people in that sort of situation.

Hiring a manual car can become a pain in this country, in the EU it can become even more of a pain, in america its no problem at all

I would try my best to learn in a manual car, you get used to it.

[dizzyblonde]

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

Do the manual test for the "what if" situation or if you want to hire a car abroad or something.

Hire cars abroad are only done in auto in our case, did so in Cyprus. Always will. Same over here, when the Freelander broke the hire car we got to go to the NEC was auto.

Originally Posted by G

I am a general petrolhead and like all things with an engine. For me taking away the manual gear changing in any vehicle takes away a lot of the fun in driving/riding. I also feel I have a lot more control in a manual vehicle)

But to answer your question.

Automatics versions of cars are normal £1.5k+ more expensive than the equivelent car.

If you ever find yourself in a sticky situation (with a friend in a manual car, they then fall ill and cant drive), it would always be handy to be able to drive a manual car like most people in that sort of situation.

Hiring a manual car can become a pain in this country, in the EU it can become even more of a pain, in america its no problem at all

I would try my best to learn in a manual car, you get used to it.

But for me I can't stand manuals. Driving a manual car is very much a chore. I bleddy hated learning how to so much I gave up several times.
As for cost, we don't care about that bit, already discussed it, Pegs all too aware about that.

And I've never had to come across an emergency situation on the bike, and have never been asked 'can you drive my car because.....'

[yorkie_chris]

Well you've obviously made the decision already, so why ask?

Auto's take all the fun out of driving.

If someone were to give me an auto, id probably fall asleep at the wheel!

[dizzyblonde]

No haven't made the decision yet!

Not even gone and rung up a instructor, I'm that enthused!
Obviously cars have great advantages, but I feckin hate them in the first place.

Apart from the few suggestions is there anything else?

[Mr Speirs]

I think if you are going off-road a bit you will need a manual car, or was it just that because you had a go in a freelander you now want to drive?

I hold a manual license but have sworn not to buy a manual car again, just can't be bothered anymore. I currently have a flappy paddle gear shift car which is great as it isn't an automatic box with manual gear changes it is a actually a manual car with an automatic gear shift, I chose when to change gear and the car will redline without changing before, also on downshifts it matches the revs automatically so it is really smooth.

But personally I would always want the manual part to be on my license, you don't get automatic hire vans and haire cars with auto are scarse and more expensive.

[dizzyblonde]

Originally Posted by Noble Ox

Auto's take all the fun out of driving.

If someone were to give me an auto, id probably fall asleep at the wheel!

Cars interest me that much, they bore me silly whatever type.
Bikes are for fun and boring stuff occasionally, thats why I have them first